IDESGI Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Yeoul clutched the toilet and emptied his stomach. Once everything inside was purged, the nausea finally subsided.

“Hah… What the hell made me suddenly gag like that?”

After roughly rinsing his mouth with water, he turned to leave the bathroom—only for his eyes to catch on two toothbrushes sitting side by side on the shelf.

Reaching out, he grabbed the yellow one next to the blue.

Was he still drunk? His stomach felt raw.

“Why is this still here?”

It had been nearly a month since he had ended things.

And yet, Ihan still hadn’t thrown away Yeoul’s toothbrush.

Fool.

He had once loved that foolish side of him. But not anymore.

Yeoul spread toothpaste onto the brush and meticulously cleaned his teeth.

Three minutes.

For that brief stretch of time, he let Ihan’s lingering attachment scrub through his mouth.

As the fleeting three minutes passed, he rinsed his mouth and spat into the sink. The toothpaste foam swirled down the drain, washing away the sting in his chest along with it.

Wiping his lips with a towel, he shoved the toothbrush into his pocket.

When he stepped out of the bathroom, he found Ihan standing frozen in place, staring blankly into space.

What’s wrong with him?

Just as he frowned in confusion, Ihan turned to face him.

Tears clung to his wide eyes.

“…Do you hate it that much? Me calling you hyung? Enough to make you gag?”

Ah.

Only then did Yeoul realize the misunderstanding.

But he didn’t bother to correct it.

It was better this way.

It would only make cutting ties easier.

So instead, he replied,

“Being called hyung by Yoo Ihan… is a bit uncomfortable.”

Yeoul slowly looked Ihan over and let out a short chuckle.

“Anyone can see that I look like the younger one. Hyung doesn’t really suit me.”

With a blade plunged straight into Ihan’s chest, Yeoul walked out the door without a backward glance.

Ihan remained rooted in place, unmoving for a long time.

---

“Hey, Kim Yushin. Do I look old to you?”

“What?”

‘What kind of bullshit is this now?’

Yushin glanced at Ihan, who was lounging on the sofa with his legs crossed. His forearm veins were bulging—probably from the fight earlier. They had been in the same battle, yet somehow, while Yushin reeked of sweat, this bastard still smelled fresh and fragrant.

With a resigned sigh, he asked,

“…Do you not look in the mirror?”

“Being good-looking and looking old are two different things.”

Ihan wasn’t particularly baby-faced, but he wasn’t aged-looking either. At twenty-five, he still had the vibrant energy of a young man.

“You look exactly your age.”

Ihan, resting his chin on his hand, furrowed his brows.

“Yeoul said I look older than him.”

“Well… I guess you could say that. Guide Han Yeoul does have a pretty youthful face.”

Yushin thought back to Han Yeoul’s features.

Sure, next to Ihan—who looked practically inhuman—he seemed more ordinary, but he was still undeniably attractive.

With his delicate, cute features, Yeoul had the kind of appearance that naturally drew attention. But despite his round face and soft crown, his usual expressionless demeanor made him seem somewhat unapproachable.

Perhaps that contrast made him even more appealing.

When Yeoul first arrived in Zone 1, many Espers had shown interest in him.

That was until they found out he was already claimed by Yoo Ihan. Then they all backed off immediately.

Yushin had occasionally seen Yeoul flash a bright smile at Ihan, and even he had been momentarily charmed by how utterly lovable he looked.

‘It wasn’t just a one-sided crush from Yoo Ihan.’

Having watched the two of them up close, Yushin knew just how much they had loved each other.

How their relationship had crumbled—that was something he, too, had been curious about.

Of course, not nearly as much as that idiot sitting in front of him.

Ihan stroked his chin and muttered seriously,

“Did he stop liking me because I look older than him?”

“Then Guide Han Yeoul might as well date only minors. And besides, you don’t even look old.”

What nonsense. The guy just kept getting more handsome with age, his features maturing like fine wine.

Hearing Yushin’s words, Ihan suddenly smirked as if something had come to mind.

“Yeah, my Yeoul does look young. When he lets his hair down and wears a hoodie, he could pass for a high schooler.”

He fondly recalled the time he had begged and pestered Yeoul until he finally agreed to wear a school uniform for their first anniversary—leading to an unforgettable roleplay session.

“…Do I really have to wear this?”

“Yeah. Yeoul, you look so good in it.”

“Then why am I the only one wearing a uniform? You wear one too!”

“I’m the teacher. So, Han Yeoul, I heard you dozed off during sex ed? Looks like you need some special lessons.”

“I already know everything I need to know! What am I supposed to learn now…? Wait. S-Stay back! Your eyes look weird!”

“Oh, so you already know? Then how about we do a little practical exam? Come here. First, kneel in front of me. Yeah, just like that…”

They ended up extending their hotel stay for two more nights.

Just reminiscing about it made Ihan feel a dull ache in his lower body.

He really missed Yeoul.

Yushin, watching Ihan grinning like a fool, shook his head in exasperation.

Any time that guy made that kind of face, it was always—always—because of Han Yeoul.

Go ahead and have your thousand-year romance or whatever. But for god’s sake, have some dignity.

Muttering under his breath, Yushin was about to brush it off when another thought suddenly struck him.

“Ah, right. When are you leaving for Zone 3? Tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

Yushin cheered internally. Finally! Peace would return to Zone 1!

Sure, it’d only be temporary, but who cared? At least he’d get a breather.

But Ihan crushed that hope in an instant.

“You haven’t gotten the official notice yet? You’re coming with me to Zone 3.”

“What? Why the hell would I?!”

Yushin’s face twisted in sheer outrage as he yelled. Why the hell do I have to go with this bastard?!

But Ihan, utterly unfazed by Yushin’s outburst, replied with a blank expression.

“I need teleportation abilities. To visit Yeoul every day in Zone 1.”

“…Are you out of your damn mind? You’re dragging me to Zone 3 just so I can be your personal shuttle? Do you have any idea how dangerous it is over there?!”

“What does it matter when I’m there? You just stand back and watch. Save your strength for taking me to Yeoul.”

Ihan’s confidence was so overwhelming it bordered on arrogance, but he wasn’t wrong.

If Yoo Ihan was protecting him, there really was no reason he couldn’t go.

‘Wait, what the fuck am I thinking?’

Had he been harassed by Yoo Ihan for so long that he’d started accepting everything without question?

Had years of cleaning up after him turned him into Ihan’s dog to the core?

Maybe at some point, his DNA had been rewritten to include Submit to Yoo Ihan as a fundamental instinct.

Terrifying bastard. That lunatic had progressed to genetic manipulation now.

“No. I’m not going. I’d rather die than go!”

Ihan’s gaze turned sharp, his face hardening into a glacial expression.

“Shut up and follow me before I decide to test just how serious you are about dying.”

Chills ran down Yushin’s spine.

If this kept up, he really would become Ihan’s obedient pet.

Better to die a man than live as his dog!

Desperately, Yushin threw out a wild card.

“If you threaten me, I’ll tell Guide Han Yeoul everything about what you’ve been up to behind his back! If I go down, I’m dragging you with me!”

Ihan let out a dry laugh, casting a crooked glance at him as if amused.

“Hah. Kim Yushin, you’ve grown some balls. Actually daring to talk back to me.”

Slowly, Ihan rose to his feet.

With a single step forward, his towering shadow loomed over Yushin.

“I’ve been way too nice, haven’t I? Tsk. I really have softened up because of Yeoul.”

Soft? Kind?

What a joke.

If Yoo Ihan was kind, then Yushin was a damn saint.

But before he could say anything, Ihan casually rolled his neck, the audible crack sending Yushin’s survival instincts into overdrive.

His loyalty instantly shifted.

“Ihan, you do know I’m the best teleporter in our district, right? If you want, I’ll take you to Guide Han Yeoul whenever you want.”

Ihan narrowed his eyes, clearly unimpressed.

“If I let this slide, you’ll just start testing my patience again.”

“N-No! No testing anything! My legs are weak—I crawl on the ground, I swear!”

“…Fine, then.”

And that was how Yushin—begrudgingly, and with the metaphorical tears of a man resigned to his fate—ended up as Yoo Ihan’s personal teleportation shuttle to Zone 3.